PEACE groups took to the National Eisteddfod today to talk about the plight of the Palestinian people and the anti-war movement since the election of the Labour government.

RMT president Alex Gordon told the Stop the War Cymru meeting that the war in Gaza has escalated since Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s election, with attacks on Beirut in Lebanon and the assassination in Iran of the Hamas leader leading the peace negotiations with Israel.

“The Middle East is spinning out of control into a wider war and Benjamin Netanyahu’s only strategy to keep out of jail is to escalate the war,” he said.

“The peace movement must speak out about this escalation and the dangers it poses to all of us.”

The RMT president called on Labour to act on its manifesto commitment to recognise a Palestinian state.

Mr Gordon said the Labour government’s intention to increase spending on defence when there are spending cuts will fuel working-class anger.

“The RMT is working with the CND trade union group to produce an alternative strategic defence review to provide a positive alternative to arms spending,” Mr Gordon said.

Palestine Solidarity Cymru was set up earlier this year and chairman Clive Haswell said the group was bringing attention to the situation in Palestine to the Eisteddfod.

“Our meeting is also intended to draw parallels with Welsh culture and our struggle to keep our identity and language,” Mr Haswell said. 

Palestinian ambassador Husam Zomlot said in a video message: “Israel is committing genocide because it can and it has never been held accountable for its crimes in the past.

“Israel must be held accountable for its many crimes.”

Former Plaid Cymru Senedd member Bethan Sayed spoke about the Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign and explained that each person can make a small contribution to help bring international pressure on Israel.

“We know sanctions helped bring an end to apartheid South Africa,” she said.

“We also need the Welsh government to stop the arms produced in Wales being sent to Israel.”

The Palestine Cymru meeting ended with young Palestinian, Omar, who lives in exile in Wales, singing the Palestine anthem and Dafydd Iwan’s Yma o Hyd in Welsh to the delight of the Welsh-speaking audience.